Chinese-Government Officials Were Apparently Given Special Access to Iron Man 3 Set

Robert Downey Jr. attends the Beijing premiere of Iron Man 3, at the Forbidden City, earlier this month., by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images.

Two weeks after learning that Paramount changed a minor plot point in its upcoming Brad Pitt zombie apocalypse movie, World War Z, to avoid ruffling feathers in China (and losing revenue from its lucrative box office), we have more news about China’s influence on Hollywood: The New York Timesreports that Chinese-government officials were allowed onto the set of Iron Man 3, starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ben Kingsley, “to monitor the filming.” (Note to avid Iron Man fans: Redraft any future set-visit requests to state that you will need to “monitor filming for Chinese government.”)

The revelation is a side point in a larger piece about how Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Django Unchained, was suddenly pulled from Chinese theaters on its opening day last week under confusing circumstances. Afterward, Sony Pictures Entertainment spokesman Steve Elzer explained, “We regret thatDjango Unchained has been removed from theaters and are working with the Chinese authorities to determine whether the film can be rescheduled.” Some of the violence in the film, as well as the color of the fake blood, was reportedly edited to appease Chinese censors.

China’s film officials are employed by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. The Times points out that in the past, Hollywood higher-ups have complained about the group’s seemingly erratic standards.

In other internationalIron Man 3 news, the U.K. premiere was postponed because of safety issues surrounding Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday. The film will make its way to U.S. theaters on May 5.